Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement - 8

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO NEW YORK CONSTRUCTION Bathgate Educational Center PSI276M Evaluation System, as well as subcontractor approval and bid and award modules. A COMMITMENT TO OVERCOMING CHALLENGES Because the City is so densely populated, one of the greatest challenges the SCA faces is " nding appropriate sites for new schools. Once sites are identi" ed, the public approval process and the concerns of local communities must be navigated. “Fortunately, our relationships with the development and not-for-pro" t communities have been instrumental in enabling us to come up with creative ways to use or repurpose space,” says Grillo. Another challenge is the tight timeframe for many projects. In other construction sectors, project end dates are often " exible; however, the SCA does not have this option— students and their parents count on school opening in September, without fail. “What sets the SCA apart from other agencies, " rst and foremost, is the people on staff here, including leadership,” says Grillo. “Every single person is dedicated and always comes through. They give up their personal lives all summer long in order to complete these buildings for school opening in September. It’s inspiring,” she says. INNOVATING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CHOICE The SCA plays a critical role in another innovative aspect of the DOE’s strategy for expanding students’ options and improving educational quality—the development of charter schools. The original commitment of substantial resources to the development of charter school facilities that was made in the 2005-2009 Capital Plan has been maintained in the new Plan. This funding is especially signi" cant given an economic environment where competition is " erce for every dollar of capital investment. Ross J. Holden, SCA Vice President & General Counsel, explained during a recent interview how the current Plan’s $210 million dollars in charter school funding will be allocated. According to Holden, the SCA negotiates a cost sharing agreement for each school, under which the City typically provides 50-80% of the total project cost. If the property is owned by the charter school developer or operator, the completed school building is deeded to the City. In turn, the City enters into a long-term lease with the charter school developer or operator, the term of which is dependent upon the contribution made by the charter school partner. The larger the contribution, the longer the lease, which generally ranges from a minimum of 30 years up to as long as 99 years. “Many times, charter schools are built in districts where there is no need for additional seats,” says Holden. “Although there may be adequate public school capacity in a particular district, the DOE is committed to offering parents greater choice for their children. Charter schools provide another arrow in the educational quiver.” Holden goes on to note that part of the appeal of charter schooling is not only choice, but curriculum diversity. There may be specialized curricula at charter schools that differ from the standard for DOE-run schools in a way that is attractive to some parents. “For instance, a charter school may provide a program that resonates with parents or is perfectly suited to a child’s personality or intellect,” he says. “A charter school offers parents additional options, thereby helping advance the goal of providing education tailored to the needs of each student.” FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES So where is the SCA heading in its next 20 years, and how will this translate into opportunities for the SCA’s partners in the construction industry? According to Grillo, the SCA will be particularly focused on three areas that will be critical to future success: sustainable design and energy ef" ciency, environmental remediation, and mixed use development. “Looking down the road, I primarily see growth in technology, energy ef" ciency and green design,” says Grillo. “There is also a great deal of work to be done in the environmental remediation area.” She further envisions, given the very limited availability of sites that are appropriate for school development, considerable growth in mixed-use development, where schools are located on the lower " oors of a high-rise or incorporated into a larger development. In short, whether it is in these emerging areas or in other ways, there will continue to be countless business opportunities to pursue at the SCA. Here’s to another 20 successful years working together to build the future for our City’s children. ■ 7

Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement

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